Last day

Today is my last day in my 20's and I am not exactly thrilled.  Yes, I have been doing my 30 under 30 list (more about that later, including a recap post!), but I didn't think I would be so anguished about this.  I have been sort of emotional lately and thought why?  Then I remembered!  It's all the old lady hormones. ;)

I know I will wake up with wrinkles tomorrow! haha.  I will keep you informed.

For now, I will eat a cupcake and anticipate turning 30 at midnight (technically I was born around 9 am). 

My pineapple cupcake is courtesy of my friend from college, Laura. :)  We had lunch and then went to get a cupcake.

Everything happens for a reason

“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” -Marilyn Monroe.

My friend Blair posted this quote on Facebook today and I realized God put it there for me to read today.  This past week has been bitter sweet since it is my last week at my current job and I will start my new job on Monday.  

I am excited about my new position and all of the benefits that will come with it, but I am sad to leave also.  For the past year I had been looking for a new position and couldn’t find one that ‘fit’.  I would go on interviews and the money, hours, benefits, etc just weren’t right.  God was holding out for my new position and didn’t want me to settle.  I had been settling for years.  I had settled for a position that led nowhere (because I was desperate to get out of the other position within the company), I had settled for no extra money when I took that position two years ago, I settled for a small raise when I deserved a bigger one, I settled for having the company I was working for make me feel like I was less for four years.  I always settled. Settled. Settled.  I got sick of it and I deserve better.

My new position came and I didn’t settle.  I knew what I had and I knew that I wanted and deserved much, much better than I had been settling for.  I ended up with a position that got me a huge raise (which I should have been making all along), 6% 401k match (instead of 3%), 100% vested in my 401k from Day 1 (I am only 40% vested now), 3-6% bonus each year, 3 weeks vacation from the start, and a few more benefits.  God is good. J

The quote above was meant for me today, I have always said things happen for a reason.  People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  

People change so you can learn to let go.  My boss was always a great person and I liked being friends with him until this past year.  Then he changed.  I am not sure the reason he changed or who he has been hanging around to make him change, but if he hadn’t have changed I would probably still be there…Settling. Wanting more, but being told that I wasn’t good enough or smart enough because I didn’t have the same piece of paper he did. 

Things go wrong so you can appreciate when they go right.  I think if my job would have been fantastic, I would not have been looking for this opportunity.

You believe lies so you can eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.  I believed lies that I was not good enough to make more money, to have better self confidence, and that I deserved more.  One time when I said that out loud I was quickly shot down.  Who did I think I was to think I deserved more?  So I backed down again and settled for the small raise when I deserved more.  Settled.  I don’t believe those lies anymore, I do deserve more and I am sick of settling.

Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.  I know that God is not through with this one and more of the ‘better’ things will fall together.

That Marilyn Monroe was one smart lady!  Thank you to everyone who helped in my job search, prayed for me while I was looking, and gave me encouragement during those rough months.  God is good!

2012 Goals!

Every year you hear of people who are making their New Year’s resolutions and plan on sticking to them no matter what!  Then by Valentine’s Day they have slacked off and often forgotten about them.  I have been known to be one of those said people and this year I have decided that I do not want one goal throughout the year, I want several!

I can have a broad goal of getting more physically fit or paying down my debt, but if I don’t have a plan to get there then I won’t ever get there and I will slack off.  Plus I am a list person so manually checking something off hopefully will work wonders for me.  So I have broken down my ‘big categories’ of goals and will work diligently to complete all of them! 

I have my 30 Under 30 list that I am doing for fun, but these goals will help me with making my life where I want it to be.  I don’t want to be where I am at currently this time next year.  I want to go and do and be.  Oh, and BTW feel free to make your own list and send it to me (or send me the link to your blog) and we can keep each other accountable.

Ready?  Let’s go!

My Goals for 2012:

Running/Fitness

-Complete a marathon

-Complete a marathon in another state

-Run at least one race each month-and race to compete not just complete

-Place in my age group and get an award

-Run more with friends (and convince more friends/family to start running)

-Make new running friends and have ‘running dates’ with them!

-Complete a triathlon

-Work on speed work workouts at least once every week

-Log every workout and post a weekly/monthly recap

-Run a 28 minute 5K (get fast lady!)

-Beat my PR for the ½ marathon

-Get 5 new race medals (I <3 bling)

Financial

-Pay $5k down on my student loans

-Save $5k for a house

-Have a $5k emergency fund

-Go out to eat only once per week-save more money that way

-Choose a realistic budget and stick to it

Romantic

-Go on dates!  Maybe sign up for eHarmony or match.com

-No settling!  If I wouldn’t marry him, don’t waste time with him.

Jabba

-Get Jabba down to 20 lbs

-Spend more time with Jabba

-Leash train Jabba for more exercise

Spiritual

-Have daily quiet time

Cooking

-Cook at least one new recipe each week

-Blog about said recipe each week

-Create a personal cookbook of recipes to have on hand (the ones I like)

Family

-See my family more often.  Go on a trip with them.

-Schedule more time with close friends

Misc Personal

-Finish my 30 Under 30 list-5 months to go!

-Finish one new self improvement book a month

-Blog more!  Be consistent with posting

Travel

-See a new state that I have never been to (and not just ‘driving through’-see the state!)

-Run in at least a 5k in that new state

-Travel out of the country (cruises do count if out of the country)

Favorite things

I am overall a pretty simple person, though I have been told I am high maintenance...which I am NOT!  Here are a few of my favorite things, in random order.

Tulips-So pretty!

Flamingos-Not much to say about these-I've loved them since I was little.

Jabba the Hutt-He's the coolest cat around so he is loved.  Don't you love his Easter bunny ears?

High heels-They make me feel taller!  At 5' 5 (cough, cough 5'3) I am on the shorter side, so I need them.

Flip flops-If I love heels, then I love flip flops more!

Glitter-Who doesn't love glitter?  It's part of my happy place.

Sunscreen-Why didn't I think about that BEFORE I went to the beach and got sunburned.

Bluebonnets-They are the State of Texas official flower and they are so beautiful.

That is all for now, I will post more of my favorites later!